Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 66mm. Patentedf-nuv. s, 190D. H. E. BRUNNER.

CETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 27, 1899.)

2 Sheets--Sheei I.

(No Model.)

Witnesses.:

Tu: Nonms PETERS co, Pnoraummwwnmoron. D, c.

No. SGLZSM Patented Nov. 6, 1,900. H. E. BRUNNER.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 27, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Modal.)

,In/Uen'' y W2 rl .wwf

THE Nunms PETERS rst: PHOTO-uma, Waxman". u. c.

llrre mares HENRY E. BRUNNER, or

ampi trier.

HAYXVARDS, CALIFORNIA.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,284, dated November6, 1900. Application iiled April Z7, 1899. Serial No. 714,766. (Nomodali.

T0 @ZZ whom it may concer/t:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. BRUNNER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Haywards, in the county of Alameda and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-GasMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object mainly the production of a machine forgenerating and supplying acetylene gas having several points andfeatures of construction that render it specially adapted for householduse and in situations where such machines would be under the managementof unskilled persons.

The invention embraces several novel elements and features, includingthose of safety and the absence of valves or cocks in the connectionsbetween the generator and the' gasholder. Among its novel features arethe automatic control of the generator and its regulation in theproduction of gas by or from the movements of the gas-holder or inproportion to the quantity drawn from the gasholder and the independentconnection of several generators in series with the gasholder in suchmanner that they are brought into action in successive order, oneseparately of the other, to maintain a continuous production of gas forthe desired period. Each generator is connected with the gas-holder byseparate connections, which allow the gas to pass from the generatorinto the gas-holder after the water is cut off or the generator isexhausted, but which prevent the iiow of gas from the holder back intothe generator or the connections between the generator and thegas-holder.

The following description explains at length the nature of my saidimprovement and the manner in which I proceed to construct and carry outthe same, reference being had to the drawings that accompany and formpart of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is an elevation of agas-machine constructed inaccordance with my said improvements, portions of the gasholding tankand the generator being broken away to show it in section. Fig. 2 is apart plan or top view in section, on a reduced scale, of the gas-holderand the independent connections between the gas-holder and two lgenerators. Fig. 3 is an elevation in detail ofthe parts of thegenerator and couplings for the connecting water and gas pipes. Fig. iis a vertical section of the trap and floats covering the outlet end ofthe connection between the gas-holder and the generator. Fig. 5 is aview in perspective of the water-pipes and gas-pipes and connectionsbetween the generator, the gas holder, and the watertank. Fig. 6 is anelevation, on an enlarged scale, of the valve mechanism controlling thesupply of water to the gas-generators. Fig. 7 is a perspective view ofthe releasing device of the valve mechanism. Fig. S is an elevation, onan enlarged scale, of the tripping device that operates the valvemechanism by the movement of the gas-holder. Fig. 9 is a detail inperspective of the tripping device.

Aindicates the water-tank, and B the floatfluctuations of the bodyT ofgas confined in the space between the body of water and the top of thegas-holder.

C indicates a generator to contain a charge of calcium carbid.

D is a standing pipe having a return bend or legDl outside the tank andan upright member D2 situated within the inner cylinder B.

D3 is a cap or tube with a closed top covering the open end of the pipeD: and extend ing into the body of water in the gas-holder a sufficientdistance to maintain a water seal, by virtue of which the back pressureof the gas in the holder is taken from the pipe D2, while at all timesthe gas is free to iiow from the generator into the gas-holder. This capis carried by floats D4, which maintain a uniform submergence of the endof the cap-tube under all variations in the water-level.

E is a flexible coupling-pipe connected to the member D bya `union F andprovided on the other end with a coupling Fl for connecting it with thegenerator.

G is a water-supply tube connected with the gas-conductor through athree-way cock I in a branch G and having an upright limb or member G2,the upper end of which is set in close relation to the side of thewater-tank and is provided with a funnel-shaped mouth G3.

H is a swinging tube connected by a loose joint hX to an outlet in theside of the tank A below the level of the water seal and of inggas-holder movable therein under thev proper length to extend from thatconnection hX to the funnel G3, so as to turn the Water into the funnelwhen the body of the tube H is inclined downward and to cut off thesupply to the generator as often as the mouth of the tube is elevatedabove the level of the water in the tank.

The parts or features of the present improvements that pertain to thecontrol and regulation of the Water supplied to the generator by therise and fall of the gas-holder comprise a novel means for raising andlowering the tube from the movements of the gas-holder, but do not`include, broadly, the idea of taking the supply of water for thegenerator directly from the water seal of the gastank nor the use andcombination of a swinging tube and a conducting-pipe disconnected fromthe tank from which the supply of Water is taken. These parts inthemselves are not claimed as novel in the present invention.

The means for raising and lowering the tube H by or from the variationsin the consumption of gas from the holder operates both to cut off thesupply of water to the generator and to stop the further'production ofgas when it iiows into the holder more rapidly than it is drawn off oris found to accumulate therein above a given quantity, and also to renewthe supply and start the generator again as soon as the quantity of gasstored in the tank is reduced below a given limit. The controllingdevice is so constructed thatin the last-men tioned operation it willbring the pipe H into working position to supply the generator withwater at a point of time sufficiently in advance of the extreme lowestposition of the gas-holder to replenish the gas in the tank before thequantity therein is entirelyexhausted. This device for raising andlowering the faucet H consists of a stationary upright rod K, fixed in asocket K on the Hoor, and a section of tube L, rigidly attached to themovable bell of the gas-holder by a bracket L and fitted to slide on thestationary rod, which constitutes a guide to maintain the tube inperpendicular position in its movements, and a plate or broad web L3,fast on and projecting from one side of the tube, with a stiffeningwireL4 on the outer edge; but while this lastnientioned partextends'laterally from the tube toward the body of the gas-holder fornearly the entire length of the tube its top edge terminates at a shortdistance below the faucet H, so that in the upward movement of thegas-holder in the tank the edge ot' the plate L3 will not strike thefaucet-body until the desired quantity of gas is stored in thegas-holder; but, on the other hand, when that quantity has accumulatedthe edge of the projecting part L3 on the moving tube L will be broughtagainst the faucet H from beneath, and by the continued movement in anupward direction it will elevate the outer end of the faucet, and thus`cut off the flow of water. In the continued upward movement of thegas-holder the nose of the faucet will ride against the web L3 and willbe held elevated at the required angle to shut off the Water and willremain also in line with the top edge ZX to drop over it as soon as thereturn or downward movement of the gas-holder brings the tube L lowenough for-that purpose. The time of such Contact between the edge ZXand the faucet-H is regulated by loosening the clamp L2 on the bracketL' and shifting the tube L up or down. By this adjustment the cuttig-offpoint of the pipe H can be regulated as required and so as to accumulatea greater or less quantity of gas in the holder before the operation ofgenerating the gas is suspended or interrupted by shutting off thesupply of water to the generator.

The generator is constructed with a view to afford a clear openingunobstructed by bails or clamps and a ready access to the interior whenthe cover is removed. The fastening for the cover furnishes a convenienthandle for carrying the generator and one that can readily be detachedand taken off when the generator is to be cleaned and recharged.

The yoke R has a screw-threaded aperture for a clamp-screw R', and tothe ends are loosely attached rods or long hooks R2, the ends of whichare turned at right angles to take into holes in ears C upon the top ofthe generator. From these ears the yoke is detachable, so that it can beremoved, leaving the top-opening unobstructed except for the short ears.

The cover C2 has a broad angetted to the rim C3 of the'generator toinsure a tight joint, and in the top an aperture C4 is provided to`receive the end of the coupling U, by which the draw-off tube isconnected to the generator. This coupling is formed of a T- shaped tubehaving a screw threaded socket U' on the central member to receive oneend of the flexible tube E and a shouldered end portion U'f2 to iit thehole in the cover and bear upon the top around that aperture. The topend of this principal member U is closed and formed with a seat for thepoint of the screw R'. The opposite end of the hose or liexible tube isconnected to the shorter limb of the gas-pipe by the unionjoint, and tothat part is connected the water-pipe G, the three-way cock I beingplaced at that point and properly connected to control both the iiow ofwater from the pipe G into the generator, as well as to shut offcommunication of both pipes with the generator.

The capacity of the machine is enlarged by connecting two generators tothe gas-holder, and Vin that case separate and independent connectionsare provided for the two generators, so that when one is exhausted orthe Water is shut off from it there is still an open communication withthe gas-holder, and no accumulation of gas under pressure can take placein the generator orits connections after it has ceased to operateactively. In using twoA generators each one is connected with thegas-holder by a separate pipe arranged IOD IIO

as shown in Fig. 5, with a single water-su pply pipe connected to theshorter limb of each gas-pipe by the pipes G through the cock I.According to the direction in which this cock is turned the water willbe supplied from the tank to one generator and will be cut off from theother. The connections between the gas-holder and the generator are ofsuch construction that valves are dispensed with, and thus the dangerarising from leakage or from sticking valves is avoided.

In Figs. 2, 5, o', and 7 I have illustrated a reversing device of novelconstruction by which the water is cut off from the exhausted generatorand is let into the charged generator as soon as the body of gas in thegasholder is reduced below a given quantity, the operation of thisdevice being controlled in an automatic manner from the fall of thegasholder in its tank.

On the stem of the plug in the three-way cock is fixed a sheave N, inthe groove of which is a cord or chain WV, attached at one end W to thesheave and having on the other end a weight V72. This chain is laidaround the upper part of the sheave, so as to hang down on the oppositeside of the axis from the point where the end of the chain is attached,and the weight is of proper size to turn the sheave a quarter-revolutionwhen released and allowed to drop. The weight is supported and takenfrom the sheave by a catch composed of' a rocker-shaft M, having` twoupright arms lV with hooked ends and an outwardly-turned arm m2 on theend, standing at right angles to the main part of the shaft. Bearingsfor the shaft are provided on the front of the upright plate /mL of theframe or support that carries the sheave, this plate forming a stop bywhich the arms are held in upright position when the chain is hookedonto the bent end of one or the other. In that position, as illustratedin Fig. 6, the chain depends in a loop behind the plate, and the weightis held off the sheave until the outer end of the rock-shaft is struckfrom above with sufficient force to throw back the arm and free itshooked end from the chain. For this purpose aprojecting arm or finger P,fixed on the piece L in line with the projecting end of the shaft M, isso arranged or adjusted as to come in contact with and press down thebent end m2 of the shaft M at the proper time in the downward movementof the gas-holder to trip the weight W2, thereby reversing the cock Nand cutting off the water from one and turning it into the othergenerator. After the weight has been released and caused to turn thesheave in one direction it is laid over the top of the sheave to theopposite side of the axis, and the chain is hung on the hook upon thatside of the device, so that it is ready to act on the sheave again whenthe rock-shaft is turned by the next descending movement of thegas-holder; but in the next operation the sheave is turned in theopposite direction because the weight is placed on that side of thesheave. After the weight has been adjusted and hung from the proper hookon the operating-shaft this device requires no further attention and isready to act as soon as the gas-holder has reached the limit of itsdownward movement when it is necessary or desirable to change thegenerators.

The pipe S conducts the gas away from the machine for use, and aconnection outside the machine is made between that pipe and theservice-pipe by the horizontal limb SX, extending through the side ofthe tank. Its upright limb S opens into the gas-holding space above thewater.

A safety-vent or blow-off operated by the rise of the gas-holder underthe accumulation of gas when the quantity increases beyond what might beconsidered the limit of safety is arranged to open communication with aseparate outlet-pipe T and allow a portion of the gas to escape. Thisblow-off is composed of the stationary stand-pipe T, connected with anoutlet branch or limb TX and a tube T', attached at the top end to thehead of the movable gas-holder, from which it extends downward over thestationary pipe, so as to telescope over and cover the outlet end ofthat pipe. In the sides of this tube, at a greater or less distancebelow the working level of the water in the holder, are severalapertures T2, and through these the gas is allowed to flow into thattube, and thus escape through the standing pipe S when the gas-holderrises sufficiently high to uncover the vent-holes T2. The time at whichthis blow-off will act is regulated by the distance of the aperturesbelow the surface of the water.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, the combination, with astationary water-tank, a iioating gasometer therein, and apivotally-attached faucet on thc tank adapted by virtue of itsadjustment to draw off a supply of water from the tank to the gas-generating chamber of the apparatus 5 of means for elevating and depressingthe said faucet from the movements of the gasometer in the tank,comprising the stationary guide, a web or vertical plate slidable onsaid guide and adapted by its position with relation to the faucet toelevate and hold up the outer end of that member in the upward movementof the plate, and means adjustably connecting the upper end oftheslidable web to the gasometer, whereby the time of contact between theweb and the faucet can be regulated to take place earlier or later inthe rise of the gasometer, as set forth.

2. In an acetylene-gas machine, the combi nation, with the floatinggasometer movable in its tank under the variations in the generation andconsumption of the gas, and having a pivotally-attached faucet which isadapted to supply water from the tank to the gas- IIO generator; of thestationary guide K, slidable tube L, vertical Web or plate L3 on saidtube, and the bracket L and clamp L2 on the gasometer as a means foradjustably connecting the slidable tube to the gasometer.

3. The combination, With a three-Way cock connecting twogenerating-chambers with a common gasometer; of means for turning saidcock to connect one generator and disconnect the other by the movementsof the gasorneter, comprising a sheave on the stem of the cock, a Weightattached to said sheave by a chain means for supporting the Weight tohold the same out of action, and a tripping device actuaied by themovements of the gas-holder and adapted to detach the Weight in thedown- Ward movement of the gasometer and allow the Weight to act on thesheave.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal.

K HENRY E. BRUNNER.' [L. s] Witnesses:

EDWARD E. OsBoRN, M. REGNER.

